Last Friday, that improvement and growth helped the Cardinals achieve one of their major goals — and caught their head coach off guard in the process.

Middleton won the hotly-contested Madison West Triangular at Odana Hills, firing a season-best 310. The Cardinals edged runner-up Janesville Parker (312) and Madison West (324).

The impressive wins helped Middleton improve to 8-1 in Big Eight Conference dual meets and tie Madison Memorial for the league title. The Spartans had dropped a dual meet earlier in the week, much to the surprise of Cabalka — who had been worried only about his Cardinals.

Madison Memorial has yet to lose in the league, while Middleton has one loss. Both Sun Prairie and Verona now have two losses.

“This was huge for us,” Middleton coach Tim Cabalka said. “We’ve been right there with Verona and Sun Prairie all year long, so this was a huge win.”

For years, Cabalka has taken his team to Kwik Trip for a big slushy when they win a major invitational. Cabalka was so happy with this win, though, he pulled the van into Kwik Trip, much to the delight of his team.

The good news for the Cardinals is their play on the field has been awfully loud inside the Big Eight Conference.

Middleton won three of four league games last week and improved to 9-3 in the conference. The Cardinals currently sit in third place in the conference, behind only Sun Prairie (12-1) and Janesville Craig (10-2).

Last week, Middleton swept a doubleheader from Madison East on Saturday, 11-2 and 12-2. The Cardinals lost to Janesville Craig, 6-2, last Thursday and rolled past Madison West, 13-3, last Wednesday.

“We kind of struggled earlier in the year,” Middleton junior shortstop/pitcher Lauren Banke said. “But I think we’re getting on a little bit of a roll right now.”

Longtime Big Eight Conference baseball rivals Sun Prairie and Middleton will again unite in an effort to raise money for pediatric cancer research. The teams will meet during the Cardinals Strike Out Cancer game on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Sun Prairie High School.

The fourth annual fundraiser game will benefit the American Family Children’s Hospital pediatric cancer research efforts. In each of the past three years, these traditional baseball powerhouses have raised more than $10,000.

Admission to the game is free, although there is an opportunity for fans to make a charitable donation upon entry, or through an apparel purchase. Each team will wear a special CardinalsStrike Out Cancer baseball cap to honor those touched by cancer. The hats will also be available for fans to purchase at the game.

The Cardinals won three of four games last week, including a pair of Big Eight Conference games.

Middleton won at Beloit Memorial, 3-1, last Tuesday and routed visiting Madison East, 15-2, last Friday. The Cardinals then split a doubleheader with Bay Port last Saturday, winning the opener, 4-2, and dropping the nightcap, 6-4.

Middleton is now 6-7 overall and 4-5 in the Big Eight Conference.

“The way we started, it was a good recovery,” Middleton manager Tom Schmitt said. “Now, we need to keep making things happen.

• Middleton 3, Beloit Memorial 1 — Derek Reisdorf threw a complete game, four-hitter to power the Cardinals past the Purple Knights last Tuesday. Reisdorf allowed just one earned run, struck out two and walked two.

“Derek pitched a whale of a game,” Schmitt said. “He kept them off balance.

And Middleton’s boys golf team is starting to show they can be a force over the final month of the season.

The Cardinals finished second at the 12-team Morgan Stanley Shootout last Thursday. Middleton then was third at the 18-team Onalaska Invite last Friday and second at the 10-team Sparta Invite last Saturday.

Middleton fired its lowest score of the year — a 321 — on its way to a second-place finish at the Morgan Stanley Invite held at University Ridge Golf Course.

Madison Edgewood won the event with a 306, followed by Middleton (321), Verona (326), Madison Memorial (327) and Sun Prairie (328).

Andy Zucker led the Cardinals with a 79, while Colin Butler carded an 80. Both Brett Wipfli and Ross Johnson added 81s.

Middleton’s boys and girls track teams both finished first at last Friday’s Cardinal Relays.

Middleton’s boys won the meet with 174 points, while Stoughton was second at 121. Waunakee (117), Monroe (88) and Oshkosh West (86) rounded out the top five.

On the girls’ side, Middleton finished with 131 points and edged runner-up Stoughton (122). Waunakee was third at 114, followed by Oshkosh West (106) and Monroe (97).

“It is always great to defend your home track,” Middleton coach Cory Christonvich said. “There was some great competition all night long and a really close battle for first place on the women's side.”

On the girls’ side, Middleton’s foursome of Madeline Pflasterer-Jennerjohn, Rachel Zander, Tai Pritts and Grace Peterson won the 400-meter relay field event. The Cardinals’ quartet of Zander, Autumn Delaney, Maya Huebsch and Anna Paulsen also won the 400-meter relay weightperson.